In March I attended a reception at the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Moscow. When a certain, not unknown Russian-American gentleman noticed me, he smiled dryly and exclaimed: “Ah, the anti-Putin blogger!”
Protest
A Weakened Putin Is Questioned Abroad, Under Siege at Home
When Vladimir Putin takes the presidential oath of office for a third time, he will be facing two unexpected new challenges that will rattle and shake his once formidable power base.
Problems Sink In for Serbs
“Now it’s back to reality,” says Teofil Pancic. “Reality is neither peace nor war. It’s the depression of realizing you’ll go on living in a society like Milosevic’s Serbia.”
An Agent for Change from the KGB
Like Vladimir Putin, Gennady Gudkov spent his formative years serving in the KGB. Today he is one of the most outspoken government critics.
Interview with a Bucket
Pyotr Shkumatov’s street antics have stumped traffic policemen and made the rest of Moscow laugh. “This isn’t about the middle class,” he says. “It’s generational.”
The Beginning of the End
Don’t worry about Moscow’s protest movement. Worry about how Vladimir Putin plans to hang on for another six years without the support of the capital.
The Politics of Fear
Politics is human speech. Fear is an animal instinct. In Moscow, fear is taking the place of politics.
Moscow Sees Off Winter
Last week Vladimir Putin recalled the heroic defense of Moscow against Napoleon in an effort to rally supporters. But it’s too late. Putin has already lost Russia’s capital.
Fear and Loathing in Moscow
About a dozen opposition demonstrators were detained in Moscow today. The participants in an anti-government protest near Red Square this afternoon were bundled into police buses without being informed of the reason for their detention.
A Hot Winter’s Day in Moscow
Biting cold and visible cracks in the motley protest movement dampened expectations. But the massive turnout gave the demonstrators new momentum in the run-up to the presidential election.
